Category: LATEST STORIES

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BTS FEATURES K-POP ARTISTS LATEST STORIES

Five Boy Group Stages You Should Watch

BTS performs On at the Grand Central Terminal for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Photo: Live Nation Chicago/Facebook

Looking for amazing live performances so you can calibrate your standards. Here are five performances to start you with. Take note that the following were not considered to keep the options limited:

  • Performances in year-end concerts and music awards shows that are usually medleys 
  • Performances in a group’s own concerts
  • Collaboration stages with two or more groups

B2ST’s Memorable and Beautiful Night in Gwanghwamun

Only a few idol groups can boast of having performed in Gwanghwamun Plaza. An iconic Seoul landmark that boasts of monuments to Admiral Yi Sun-sin (remember the 2014 epic movie The Admiral: Roaring Currents?) and King Sejeong (of hangul fame), the public square has been immortalized in the 2009 KBS hit series Iris, where a long gun chase scene was filmed. And if you are an ELF, you may have listened to Kyuhyun’s debut song, At Gwanghwamun countless times. But although the area has been designed and renovated for cultural events, no idol group has had the chance to perform in it. 

That all changed in 2012 when B2ST filmed their comeback performance of Beautiful Night for Inkigayo in Gwanghwamun Plaza. On July 26 at 11 PM (an hour short of midnight, which may be a nod to their EP’s title, Midnight Sun), an estimated crowd of 4,000 fans flocked to the square to see Junhyung, Dongwoon, Yoseob, Gikwang, Doojoon, and Hyunseung stage a guerilla performance with the historic gate as their background. It was a beautiful night, indeed as the group’s performance on the makeshift stage gave a similar feel as the song’s MV, which showed them performing before an American crowd in a US location.

With their Gwanghwamun live stage, B2ST not only successfully proved themselves as one of the most popular groups of k-pop’s second generation, but also cemented themselves in the annals of Korean pop music history. 

The World Revolves Around BIGBANG

What can you say about BIGBANG, a group that treats each and every live stage performance like it’s part of their concert? Brash, high-energy, and loud are some words you can always use to describe their live stages. But when it comes to their ballads, how do they perform them? With intimacy and a lot of charisma, obviously. In the 424th episode of M Countdown, G Dragon, TOP, Taeyang, Daesung, and Seungri performed Loser very intimately, in a circular revolving stage, surrounded by VIPs loyally waving their yellow lightsticks. Watch this performance and dare say you’re not at the least impressed with their live performing skills. 

VIXX’s Shangri-La Remix at the 2017 MBC Music Festival

A list of memorable live stages would not be complete without the Concept Kings. VIXX has established themselves as a group that executes every single concept with so much slay that Starlights can only consider themselves the luckiest fandom in all of k-pop. Duality of darkness and light? Check with Hyde and subsequent Jekyll stages. A dark concept bordering on horror? Check with Voodoo. Sci-Fi futuristic love story? Check with Error. Polished but bordering on risque with chains and bondage? Check with Chained Up. Sexy nobility with aggressive hip-thrusting? Check with The Scentist. 

But nothing has been more iconic as a VIXX concept, at least in the aesthetic sense, than 2017’s Shangri-La. Six sexy men dancing in flowing robes? Check. Six sexy men dancing with fans? Check. Cherry blossom background? Check.  Each and every live performance of Shangri-La is simply beautiful to watch, and the 2017 MBC Music Festival performance with the group adding remix portions to the song only meant more dance breaks and aesthetic elements. As soon the group closed their fans and executed their ending pose, every viewer was left wanting more while being thoroughly satisfied. 

BTS puts ON a Show in Grand Central Terminal

How else can a groundbreaking group perform a historic song than staging a live performance in one of the world’s most iconic locations? And that’s exactly what BTS did when they performed the lead single off their album Map of the Soul: 7 in New York City’s Grand Central Terminal for The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. 

When the seven perform ON with dancers doubling as a post-apocalyptic drumline, even those who haven’t enlisted themselves as ARMY would surely appreciate this single-take live stage. As most, if not all of us, are quite spoiled with the work done by Korean music show camera operators, we may have a couple of items to critique with the American show’s shots, as some members get cut in some moments, but our nitpicking obviously doesn’t diminish our appreciation of this historic performance.

Thanks to SEVENTEEN

If you’re looking for excellent live stages, you can never go wrong with SEVENTEEN. Any and every single SEVENTEEN live stage is guaranteed to give you the best choreography, vocals, fashion, synchronization, and overall energy. And all of these factors are perfectly embodied in their comeback performance of Thanks on M Countdown in February 2018. 

The live vocals are flawless, the sharpness of the intense movements can cut anyone, the perfect balance between precision and flair of the transitions are glorious, and THE FORMATIONS! No words to describe the hard work displayed by the program’s cameramen in showcasing the group’s beautiful formations. The cuts from zoomed-in shots of some members to panoramic shots to overhead shots that show the formations in full effect are breathtaking. The 9.3 million views the video has gotten is a testament to the beauty of this masterpiece.

Watching these performances shows the amount of work and dedication our idols put into their live stages. A single performance is a result of countless hours of practice and vocal recording sessions all members subject themselves to.  And we haven’t even mentioned legendary performances from SHINHWA, Super Junior, EXO, and Infinite, to name a few. Here’s to more exciting live stages to come!

Feature image: BTS performs On at the Grand Central Terminal for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Photo: Live Nation Chicago/Facebook
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KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

Jay B Releases First EP, Hints at Possible GOT7 Reunion

GOT7's Jay B releases first solo EP, SOMO:FUME. Photo: H1GHR MUSIC

Lim Jaebeom’s solo career is officially taking off.

As of August 26, 2021, the leader of GOT7 has finally released his first mini-album SOMO: FUME. Not surprisingly, it’s filled with songs that are distinctly Jay B.

While JB is currently promoting the title track “B.T.W” and enjoying his status as a solo artist, he is also eager to work with Mark, Jackson, Jinyoung, Youngjae, BamBam, and Yugyeom again. Jay B has confirmed that they are working to make a GOT7 reunion happen soon.

GOT7 has been working together since 2014 but the group hit an unusual milestone in early 2021. All members of the idol group decided against renewing their contracts with JYP Entertainment. The decision made Ahgases worry that it would mean the group’s disbandment. However, the boys made it clear that GOT7 is “Forever Seven” and will continue to perform together.

Since then, the GOT7 members have signed with different companies and worked on solo projects. Jay B was the last member to choose a new company and signed with Jay Park’s H1ghr Music. Jaebeom then made his mark as a solo artist with the digital single “Switch It Up.”

https://youtu.be/D-kjUANWM9c

It’s clear Jay B is having the time of his life writing new music on his own. While speaking to MTV, the other half of JJ Project admitted he loves the artistic freedom of a solo artist.

“The freedom that I feel is that my ideas, my creativity, and my direction do not get lost in translation and doesn’t get lost in the shuffle. It doesn’t get overridden by other people’s opinions,” Jay B elaborated. “Now, my creativity is becoming more of a reality. It’s not that I have the freedom to do whatever I want with my music—that’s not it. It’s just that my ideas are being more prioritized here, and I feel like you see that in my songs.”

Being a solo Korean R&B artist means new fans but Jay B also wants to please Ahgases with his current sound. Jus2’s second member assures GOT7 fans that he hasn’t changed at all. 

“I want the fans to continue to see me and keep their love for me. Nothing’s going to change. Just look at me and take me for what I am and who I am. I’m still me,” he said.

https://youtu.be/cUAsTQUU3xk

Pleasing Ahgases means a GOT7 reunion. Jay B knows this and reveals that he and his fellow members are looking for ways to make it happen.

“I really want to let the fans know that every one of the seven members are trying extremely hard to continuously do good work and maintain the name of GOT7,” Jay B said. “Even today, we were talking and are still thinking of ways we can do something together so we can maintain the fandom and honor for GOT7. We’re always thinking of new ways to progress, but it’s challenging.”

Jay B, Mark, Jackson, Jinyoung, Youngjae, BamBam, and Yugyeom are all working on their own solo projects. However, fans can expect GOT7 to eventually work together again when the time is just right.

SOMO: FUME, Jay B’s first mini-album, is out now.

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FEATURES LATEST STORIES SUPER JUNIOR

Variety Kings: Super Junior

Super Junior's online variety show, SJ Global. Photo: SUPER JUNIOR/YouTube

The men of Super Junior have been in Korean entertainment for the last 15 years and have had numerous variety show appearances under their belts. Their crazy-happy personalities make them variety favorites—much to the delight of E.L.Fs everywhere.

You’re guaranteed to be rolling on the floor laughing by watching shows with any (or all!) of the Super Junior members in the cast. So, bring out the tteokbokki, ramyeon, and soju, and have your very own viewing party with these programs and web series: 

Super Junior Returns (2017 – present) 

Starring: All Super Junior members 

The plot: Super Junior Returns is an ongoing web series featuring all active Super Junior members. The first season documented their 8th album and comeback preparations. In season two, the members went on to show the best food around Japan. Season three featured the members’ individual schedules, as well as their 9th album preparations. The current season’s concept is all about fulfilling requests from E.L.Fs. 

Where to watch: VLive 

Knowing Brothers (2015 – present)

Starring: Heechul

The plot: Heechul is part of the fixed cast on Knowing Brothers, one of the most popular shows in South Korea today. Every week, “transfer students” come out on the program and are interviewed by the cast members. The guests also participate in activities such as games and skits. 

Where to watch: Netflix

My Little Old Boy (2016 – present) 

Starring: Heechul 

Plot: My Little Old Boy features celebrities’ mothers, as they observe and comment on the daily lives of their unmarried adult sons. Heechul and his mother, Kim Sun-ja, are in the show as part of the fixed cast. 

Where to watch: Viu (as Mom’s Diary)

Analog Trip (2019 – 2020)

Starring: Leeteuk, Shindong, Eunhyuk, Donghae and TVXQ’s Yunho and Changmin 

The plot: Super Junior and TVXQ go on a trip to Yogyakarta, Indonesia, with time travel as their concept. They all go back to 2002, and in order to “return” to the present time, they had to complete several tasks and challenges.

Where to watch: YouTube

New Journey to the West (2017 – present) 

Starring: Kyuhyun

The plot: The show is inspired by the Chinese novel Journey to the West. Along with Kyuhyun, the program also stars Kang Hodong, Lee Sugeun, singer Eun Jiwon, actor Ahn Jaehyun, Winner’s Mino, and Block B’s P.O. For each season, the cast members dress up as different characters, go on a trip, and complete various missions to receive dragon balls that will grant their wishes. 

Where to watch: Viu, TvN D ENT channel on YouTube

Things that Make Me Groove (2020 – 2021) 

Starring: Kyuhyun

The plot: In Things that Make Me Groove, Kyuhyun sets out to find food that best complements alcohol. The program, a spin-off from New Journey to the West, shows the idol at home, as he invites different friends for a night of games and storytelling over food and alcohol. 

Where to watch: Channel Fullmoon on YouTube

SJ Global  (2021)

Starring: All Super Junior members 

The plot: Leeteuk, Yesung, Shindong, Eunhyuk, Donghae, Siwon, Ryeowook, and Kyuhyun are the new employees at SJ Global, a small to medium-sized company that has been supporting Super Junior. This variety mini-series has the members take on office tasks to earn badges for the privilege to get off work early. They also go on a cooking challenge, attend a special class on sales pitching, and more. 

Where to watch: Super Junior’s YouTube channel

Super Junior is everywhere in the Korean entertainment industry indeed! What’s your favorite variety show in the list? What other programs do you love to watch?

 

Feature image: Super Junior’s online variety show, SJ Global. Photo: Super Junior/YouTube
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FEATURES LATEST STORIES

Boo Seungkwan and His War With the English Language

SEVENTEEN. Photo: SEVENTEEN/Facebook

Boo Seungkwan, main vocalist of the 13-member group SEVENTEEN, doesn’t have a lot of struggles when it comes to abilities and talents. Singing skills? Top-notch. Variety sense? Natural. Comedic timing? Perfect. 

English language? Now, there’s a concern there. 

Mr. Boo’s struggles with the English language have been well-documented, and here are five moments that chronicle his battles, which can be considered as victories for us, his amused fans and the Carat fandom. 

When in Starbucks LA, Ordering in English is a Must

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IW2q35PY5MU

On an episode of GOING SEVENTEEN, the members took a tour of Los Angeles and somehow found a Starbucks. Which should be okay, considering Vernon and Joshua were there to make ordering a breeze. 

Except they were not there.

Instead, English “experts” Jeonghan, DK, and Seungkwan bravely went inside the store to order two hot and three iced Americanos. But it doesn’t end there. DK gave Mr. Boo the task of inquiring about the unicorn frappuccino, a limited drink available only in selected stores.  

Seungkwan started out okay, telling the barista of the Americano orders. When it came to the 3rd item, our main vocalist, said the now-classic inquiry: 

“Excuse me, um. Can I? Uhh.. I have a question. In U.S… only… America. Starbucks…limited beverage… 있어요? Unicorn…”

– Boo, 2017

Luckily, the cashier read between the lines and informed the three giggling customers that the beverage is not available in their store. Boo Diva struggled for nothing, but I dare say, earned the respect of the English-speaking world.

Seungkwan, culinary language barrier conqueror

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF15YZM9mB8

This is an absolute classic. This moment came from Seungkwan’s livestream with Hoshi called Andromeda, where a kimbap-making competition was staged between Jun and Hoshi versus Seungkwan and Joshua. When Joshua poured a healthy amount of seasoning into his hand, Seungkwan thought he was going to put all of it into the kimbap they were making, prompting him to ask his partner in panic, 

“Oh my gosh. Your mistake? Oh my gosh what zyoo doing now… are you kidding me? Kimbap kidding?”

To which Joshua in his trademark calmness, apologized and said he was going to just “spray a little” of the seasoning into their dish. Upon realizing his partner’s intention, the usually high-strung Boo backpedaled, praising his partner with exclamations of “Oh, so… so genius!“

The pair won with their iconic “kimbap kidding” creation. 

Seungkwan, the standard of English quality

Here is one for the books. In footage from Seventeen TV, where the future members were still trainees, Mingming (one of the final SVT trainees who opted to leave Pledis in 2014, months before the boys were slated to debut) held an impromptu interview with star-shaped sunglasses-wearing Seungkwan, asking him to show everyone his English skills. Not one to stand down from a challenge, Seungkwan goes, 

“May I take two orders? I kkk… I work… “

To which Vernon reacted by saying, “Oh gawd. What are you doing?”

Baby SK eggs him on, asking, “What are you talking about?” 

To which the native English speaker answers, “I’m talking about your very low quality English.”

Boo Diva was not having any of it, aggressively asking, “Low quality? Low quality???” Then in Korean, asserts, “I’m the best quality. I’m the best quality.” End of story.

Seungkwan and Joshua strike again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn246C30Mfs

In behind-the-scenes footage of the Mansae music video filming, Seungkwan was caught reading an English book in front of the camera. After reading the title of a chapter without a hitch, he got stuck with what sounded like instructions for an activity. Joshua then swoops in, reading the entire passage without even blinking, to which our variety ace can only stare at him in mock disdain. 

After Joshua’s display of impeccable English reading skills, Our Boo can only comment with, “I envy kids with good pronunciation but don’t tease us who aren’t good.“

Woozi, who watched the entire interaction, can only laugh non-stop. And so did we. 

The nightmare of an English interview 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOHL1mNfFuM

As one of the hosts of the variety quiz show Unexpected Q in 2018, Seungkwan subjected himself to one of the show’s trademark portions, an interview in English. He couldn’t understand the first question which was, “What’s it like being an idol in Korea,” so he answered,

“Another… many… many mathematics.”

The next question was, “What did you do yesterday,” to which he answered, 

“I… I…” pointing to his head, “My hair… shampoo. Shampooed.”

Next question, “Have you ever been abroad?”

BSK: “This year… March… I went to Jeju Isand. Jeju is my hometown.”

Then, quickly realizing his mistake, he apologized and continued with, “Two days ago, I went… to L.A.“

Last set of questions: “What did you like most about L.A.?”

BSK: “I like L.A.’s weather.”

Prodded on with what he likes about the weather, he answered, 

“No cold… no hot… so so,” with matching gestures. 

Totally nailed that one, for sure.   

With his active participation in variety shows, we are sure to witness more struggles of our variety ace with the English language in the future.

Feature image: SEVENTEEN. Photo: SEVENTEEN/Facebook
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K-DRAMA LATEST STORIES

5 K-dramas (and a movie!) Starring Super Junior

Choi Siwon in She Was Pretty. Photo: MBCdrama/YouTube

OG K-pop idol group Super Junior has been a consistent music chart-topper in the last 15 years. They’ve also changed the K-pop scene in many other ways: they’re the first group to have more than 5 or 6 members—they had 13 (15 including Super Junior-M members Henry and Zhou Mi) members at their peak—and they introduced the concept of sub-units. 

Their talents are not limited to music, however. The men of Super Junior have since branched out to star in variety shows, musicals, movies, and K-dramas. Check out these K-dramas (and a movie!) that feature Super Junior members in main or supporting roles. 

1. Quiz of God Season 4 (2014)

Starring: Donghae 

The plot: Quiz of God is a medical and forensic drama franchise that tackles unusual cases and suspicious deaths. Donghae stars in the fourth season of the series as one of the people in the team of investigators. 

Where to watch: See info on the OCN Channel website

2. She Was Pretty (2015) 

Starring: Siwon

The plot: Childhood sweethearts—a pretty girl from a rich family and an unattractive boy—meet again as adults after a reversal of fortunes and appearances. The pretty girl lost her good looks after experiencing hardships, while the boy grew up handsome and successful. 

Siwon gave viewers major second lead syndrome in this drama with his cheeky and lovable character Kim Shin Hyuk. 

Where to watch: Netflix

3. Voice Season 1 (2017) 

Starring: Yesung

The plot: The crime thriller drama Voice follows the lives of emergency call center and dispatch team members. The team, led by a policewoman with a talent for voice profiling, solves cases together. Yesung was cast in the first season as one of the members of the emergency call center’s Golden Time Team. 

Where to watch: Netflix, Rakuten Viki 

4. Revolutionary Love (2017) 

Starring: Siwon 

The plot: In this society drama, Siwon stars as an unemployed third-generation chaebol who hides his identity to live life as a regular person. In the drama, his character meets people from all walks of life and helps him see the struggles of the working class. 

Where to watch: Netflix 

5. My Fellow Citizens! (2019) 

Starring: Siwon 

The plot: The drama follows the story of a talented con man (Siwon) who is married to a police detective. He hides his identity from his wife as he continues to live life as a swindler. But after a series of unfortunate incidents, he suddenly finds himself in the running for a seat at South Korea’s National Assembly. 

Where to watch: Netflix, Viu 

Bonus: Movie featuring SuJu

Attack on the Pin-Up Boys (2007) 

Starring: All Super Junior members except Kyuhyun, with cameos by Super Junior-M’s Henry, SHINee’s Key, and EXO’s Suho 

The plot: Mysterious attacks on high school flower boys prompt amateur high school detectives to investigate who may be behind these incidents and speculate who the next victim will be. The movie stars all of the Super Junior members except Kyuhyun, who was then recovering from his car accident. The story is campy and hilarious—and all the members played their exaggerated high school characters in their signature Super Junior style. 

Where to watch: Amazon Prime

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LATEST STORIES VARIETY

Some Iconic K-pop Idol Moments on TV to Remember

TWICE's Dahyun with JYP in Knowing Bros. Photo: JTBC Entertainment/YouTube

You have to remember that our beloved K-pop idols train for years, not just to be the amazing performers that we watch on stage. Yes, they spend countless days undergoing voice training, rap training (for the rappers), dance training, and composition and music production for some. All of them go through personality development and “variety” training. Variety training, you may wonder. As we have seen through the years, K-pop idols, especially groups, have appearances in just about any kind of TV program to promote their new releases and keep their group visible to the public, strengthening their “brand reputation”. It’s also a way of introducing each member to the viewers. A lot of idols have their own variety shows, but most of those are only available online, so they still somehow prefer to make televised appearances to reach a wider audience.

And not just anyone can hack a TV show guest appearance. You need to develop skills like spontaneity, dealing with sometimes difficult hosts, winging through awkward interactions, and having to do tasks and “challenges” that you may not be in the mood to be doing and be seen on national TV. But in the spirit of fun and “fan service”, even idols who may not initially have the personality for these public appearances develop this “sense” and, surprisingly, become good in them.

Here are a number of legendary appearances on TV shows and specials that have stood the test of time, showing that some of these idols have really excelled in “variety training,” and endearing them more to us. As if we need more reasons to love them!

Endless laughs from whispers?

The whisper challenge is one of those portions in the variety show Knowing Bros that have produced iconic moments for idols. The game pairs two idols, where they sit facing each other with one saying a word or phrase and the other trying to guess what that word or phrase is, while wearing a headset with loud music so the guesser can’t hear what his/her partner is saying. This game has also been played on other variety programs, but the two most memorable are those played in JTBC’s reality-variety show classroom.

The Epic Dahyun vs. JYP Whisper-Turned-Shouting Match

Among today’s crop of JYP idols, TWICE’s Dahyun is one of those armed with natural “variety sense.” She is also known to be quite close with her entertainment label’s founder—who also happens to have quite a music career himself—the JYP, also known as:

  • Park Jin Young
  • J.Y. Park
  • The Asiansoul

And aka the guy whose trademark is whispering “JYP” at the start of every song he produces. As the owner of that iconic whisper, one would expect JYP to be good in a whisper challenge, but alas, he only frustrated his partner Dahyun. And the depth of Dahyun’s disappointment knew no bounds as her face turned red only 20 seconds into the first round (the mystery word was “plastic pants”, a JYP iconic fashion statement), kept yelling at her boss, called him by his first name, and asked him why he was so bad in this game. The situation was so funny yet anxiety-inducingly bad that host Heechul had to restrain Dahyun a bit, because even for a casual viewer, it looked like Dahyun was going to blow her fuse. In the end, JYP guessed 2 out of 7 words correctly.

 

EXO, Especially Kai

When six EXO members visited the Knowing Bros classroom, they were the first to admit that they were really bad at playing the whisper challenge. To encourage them to improve their game, they were challenged by Kang Hodong and the group that if they did well in the whisper challenge, they would be able to perform their latest release that time, Obsession. The first pair of Chen and Chanyeol did okay, but when it came to Baekhyun and Kai, and Suho and Sehun, hell broke loose as EXO’s main dancer kept on interpreting Baekhyun’s clue of “when you’re cold” (the mystery word was “warming pads”) to “dead people” while the maknae kept on complaining that he can’t hear his leader-partner when it was exactly the point of the game. Things went a bit naughty when Baekhyun’s clues of “in your underpants” and “two words” were misinterpreted by Kai, making him wonder if his answer can be said on air without the strict Korean censors bleeping him, consequently sending the members rolling in laughter on the floor. 

Award Shows

And I’m not talking about MAMAs, MMAs, and end of the year concerts from TV stations. I’m talking about TV and movie awards where actors and actresses attend. These events are super awkward for idols to perform in because usually, the actors, actresses, and other attendees of these ceremonies are, to put it kindly, stoic when reacting to musical performances. But a couple of idols brought their A game and at the very least, sent tongues wagging and K-netz on a search frenzy as soon as they were done. 

Mamamoo Kills Awards Nights

If there’s a group that can leave people open-mouthed and breathless in their performances, that has to be vocal powerhouse Mamamoo. That they can make even the most stern-faced actors dance with them (Cho Jinwoong in 2016’s AAA) and have them react to their witty adlibs. For the 2017 and 2018 Blue Dragon Film Awards, Moonbyul, Solar, Wheein, and Hwasa changed some of the lyrics to Decalcomanie and Yes I Am to pay tribute to the nominees and their memorable dialogues. From Sol Kyunggu in The Merciless, Song Kangho in Taxi Driver, Na Moon Hee in I Can Speak, Lee Byunghun in Inside Men, and yearly subject Jo Insung, the girls didn’t leave any stone unturned, making these awards show less stiff than they usually are. 

Hyolyn Doesn’t Dilly Dally

Hyolyn is no stranger to television, having starred in KBS2’s Dream High Season 2 and contributing to several drama OSTs. So, it may not have been a total shock that she was invited to perform in the 2018 edition of the KBS Drama Awards. The performance started off beautifully, with the SISTAR main vocal singing Spring Watch from the soundtrack of 2017 TV drama Black Knight: The Man Who Guards Me. Then, out of the blue, Hyolyn asks Cha Taehyun who was in the audience if he wanted to go to the sea with her. Trench coat off, Hyolyn segued to See Sea wearing a sparkling silver one piece costume. Then came her performance of Dally, her single known for very… physical choreography. Actors and actresses in the audience froze as body rolls, hip thrusts, and twerks came in rapid succession. Suffice to say every single jaw dropped as Hyolyn’s performance ended. Criticism of the performance, particularly the outfit, ensued the next day, but for KBS, a TV station usually known to be conservative, their event was the talk of the town, so it was a win-win situation. 

Weekly Idol

From 2011, one of the first things that any K-pop fan would think of when “variety show” was mentioned is Weekly Idol, initially hosted by Jang Hyungdon and Deffconn. Every week, idol groups would join in the fun as they, with the two hosts, would engage in a variety of games and activities that somehow gave the fans a glimpse of their personalities outside the stage. Some appearances were a bit controversial, with the hosts sometimes getting called out for asking questions that sound a tad out of line and awkward, which may have led the two to step down as hosts in 2018. Donni and Conni eventually hosted a similarly-themed show on JTBC, Idol Room, while Weekly Idol had a number of host changes before finally settling with ZE:A’s Kwanghee and SuJu’s Eunhyuk. 

The B2ST Credit Card Game

The 2nd generation group B2ST, now known as Highlight, is not popularly known as the “variety kings” for nothing, Their perfect comedic timing, the balance or energies among the members, easy rapport with the hosts of any show they visit, and their lack of reluctance to do anything for a laugh is a testament to how great they are in the variety department. In their first Weekly Idol appearance since the departure of member Hyunseung, they did not disappoint even if they had to establish instant rapport with co-hosts EXID’s Hani and SuJu’s Heechul who filled in for Conni who was on extended medical leave. In the segment where they are supposed to perfect challenges to receive gifts to be bought by the credit card of their agency’s CEO, the program introduced a new twist: The show was apparently going to use THEIR credit cards instead of the CEO’s. It was a riot to see the usually cool and brooding Junhyung egged on by his friend Heechul to do aegyo and for the group’s leader Doojoon to fake cry in embarrassment as the members went all-out to win items on their wishlist. Gikwang won a new gaming PC, Dongwoon won a Hulk action figure, Junghyun won two vacuum cleaners, Doojoon won a tablet, and main vocal Yeoseob, who wished for a gold bar, wasn’t chosen by his members to win. 

Fortunately, it was later revealed that they were going to use the CUBE Entertainment CEO’s card, provided they win a whisper relay (a variation of the whisper challenge where members relay the mystery word to the next person wearing a headset until the last person guesses the word correctly. They did win the relay and Junhyung gave his extra vacuum cleaner to poor Yoseobie. 

GFriend, Double Speed Dance: Legends

Weekly Idol was the show that introduced the Random Play dance to the public, where group guests had 3 seconds to remember the choreography and formation to a random song in their discography and actually dance it. Very few groups succeed in this mission, with one of them being the legendary GFriend, known then for their sharp synchronized choreography to even their sweet teenybopper songs. Thus, Weekly Idol took the challenge a step further the next time the Navillera group guested on the show by playing their iconic songs at twice the speed. The girls took the challenge in stride, perfecting the choreography to their songs at double the cadence. They passed the challenge with flying colors on all three occasions: they did Rough one time, Fingertip another time, and finally, Glass Bead, Me Gustas Tu, and Navillera one after another. 

I’m sure you have other iconic moments with your favorite idol groups on other TV shows and webcasts. Here’s hoping we continue to get more memorable episodes from them in the future, especially these days when a lot of idol activity happens online!

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FEATURES LATEST STORIES

Take a Random Girls’ Generation Quiz. You Know You Want To.

Girls' Generation 소녀시대 "I GOT A BOY" music video/SMTOWN/YouTube

August 5 came and went, which means The Nation’s Girl Group, Girls’ Generation, (sorry, ONCE), celebrated yet another anniversary. Reports surfaced that the girls have been planning for a reunion event on National MC Yoo Jaesuk’s talk show, Yoo Quiz on the Block, which unfortunately did not push through as one of the show’s staff tested positive for COVID-19. YouTube sensation Jaejae has also aggressively campaigned for all eight members to guest on her program MMTG once restrictions are relaxed and schedules are fixed. 

So, while Ms. Rona continues to ravage the world, why don’t you answer this Girls’ Generation trivia quiz? Score 1 point for every correct answer in the Easy category, 2 points for correct average answers, and 3 points for correct challenging answers. There are also opportunities to earn bonus points. Don’t tell me we haven’t awakened the competitive Sone in you.  Open your Notepad, indulge in some SNSD nostalgia, and see you in the answer key!

Trigger warning: OT8 purists may object to a number of questions as they reference OT9. 

Easy

In the 2020 Mnet Asia Music Awards, who did K-netz dub as the “lady in the red dress?”

  1. Tiffany
  2. Yoona
  3. Sooyoung
  4. Nobody among the members attended the 2020 MAMA.

Which of these English lines in SNSD songs are Yoona’s?

  1. “I like to party” in All Night
  2. “Check this out” in The Boys
  3. “Hey, turn it up” in Party
  4. All of these are The Eternal Center’s lines.

At which part of the song does Tiffany want to bring the song to in I Got a Boy? 

  1. From the beginning
  2. To 1:30
  3. To 1:40
  4. This is a trick question. 

Who was subject to a “bullying” hidden camera prank in an episode of Girls’ Generation’s Hello Baby, on her birthday?

  1. Sunny
  2. Seohyun
  3. Yuri
  4. I don’t remember anything of that sort.

Speaking of Hello Baby, during the first new episodes, Kyungsan cried every time he saw his mommy…

  1. Tiffany
  2. Sooyoung
  3. Jessica
  4. Baby Kyungsan was terrified of everyone. 

Average

Taeyeon has sung in OSTs of two dramas starring this actress.

  1. Park Shinhye
  2. Son Yejin
  3. IU
  4. Suzy 

What sport has Hyoyeon won a competition in?

  1. Dancesport
  2. Ski Racing
  3. Marathon
  4. Hyoyeon is the queen of all sports. 

In the music video for All Night, who was watching Sooyoung singing on stage?

  1. Yuri
  2. Yoona
  3. Sunny
  4. All 7 members.

Among these members, who was NOT born in California?

  1. Sunny
  2. Jessica
  3. Tiffany
  4. All of them were born in the USA. 

Jessica, recorded with Park Myeungsoo, a summer song about this classic summer staple:

  1. Patbingsoo
  2. Pina Colada
  3. Naengmyeon
  4. You’re talking about another member. 

Challenging

During the promotion for which single did the group have a car accident on their way to a music show?

  1. Kissing You
  2. Baby Baby
  3. Lionheart. 
  4. SNSD has never been in a car accident. 

On the first part of the music video for Catch Me If You Can, name the only member who wasn’t wearing a dog tag.

  1. Tiffany
  2. Taeyeon
  3. Yuri
  4. All of them wore dog tags.   

In the iconic Tokyo Dome performance of Into the New World in 2016, who covered Jessica’s first two lines, “teukbyeolhan gijeogeul gidariji ma, nunapeseon uriye geochin gireun”?

  1. Yoona
  2. Yuri
  3. Tiffany
  4. The group opted to be silent during that part. 

In the MV,  choreography and live stages of Mr Mr, who were directly at the back of Yuri as she sings the iconic line, “My-Mi-Mi Mister rock this world (echo world world world)”

  1. Sunny to her left, Sooyeon to her right
  2. Hyoyeon to her left,  Taeyeon to the right
  3. Jessica to the left, Yoona to the right
  4. Her two male dance partners. 

Arrange the members according to the numbers they wore on their jerseys for the Oh! music video, from lowest to highest. Give yourself an extra point if you can name all their numbers. That is, if their jerseys did have numbers.  

  1. Ti, Yoon, Tae, Sun, Yu, Sica, Soo, Hyo
  2. Tae, Yoon, Ti, Hyo, Sica, Yu, Sun, Soo
  3. There were no numbers on their jerseys, right?
  4. All of them wore no. 9.

Answer Key:

Easy 

  1. C. SNSD’s tallest, who by then also just finished her two-year service as a police officer, made an appearance as a presenter at the 2020 MAMAs, where she broke K-Internet as netizens wanted to make sure of who they were watching on TV. 
  2. D. All of the lines are Yoona’s 
  3. D. It was Jessica who sang, “Let’s bring it back to 1:40,” not Fany. 
  4. B. Maknae was made to feel bad for accidentally hitting Taeyeon with a camera and forgetting to buy rice for baby food. Of course, the girls succeeded in making the soft-hearted maknae cry once her surprise birthday party was unveiled.  
  5. A. For the first couple of episodes of Hello Baby, Tiffany had this habit of taking away things that the teething baby Kyungsan was biting. The luckiest baby on earth didn’t know better than his mommy Tiffany just being cautious as she thought that the things he was putting into his mouth were dirty, and so he kept crying everytime she approached him.      

Average

  1. C. The OST Queen has contributed to Scarlet Heart Ryeo and Hotel del Luna, starring Korea’s Little Sister.
  2. B. The Dancing Queen won a medal at the 13th National Association of Sports Ski Competition in 2014. 
  3. A. Yuri was in the crowd watching Sooyoung sing, and after a couple of scenes, she actually joins her on stage. 
  4. D. Tiffany and Jessica were both born in San Francisco, while Sunny was born in OC.  
  5. C. Jessica cemented her place in the Korean summer playlist as she recorded Naengmyon with variety show star Park Myungsoo in 2009. 

Challenging

  1. A. The girls struggled to get to Music Bank on time as their car clashed with another vehicle; so the girls in their teenybopper outfits and lollipop props had to walk all the way from the location of the accident to the KBS Public Hall, where MuBank was being filmed.
  2. B. Yuri, who also had the first line of the song, didn’t wear a dog tag. 
  3. A. Yoona covered Sica’s first lines when the group performed the ballad version of their debut song in Tokyo Dome, the first time they performed ITNW as OT8. 
  4. A. Sunny and Sooyoung were the ones directly behind Yuri. Look for Seventeen’s Seungkwan and Jaejae reenacting this iconic moment in a couple of MMTG episodes. 
  5. A.Tiffany: 0, Yoona: 7, Taeyeon: 9, Seohyun: 11, Sunny: 12,Yuri: 21, Jessica: 22, Sooyoung: 24, Hyoyeon: 32. The girls were asked for their favorite numbers. 

So, how did you fare? One thing’s for sure: Walking down memory lane with SNSD is one nostalgia trip everyone can surely enjoy.

Categories
BTS FEATURES LATEST STORIES VARIETY

10 Must-Watch K-pop Idol Variety Shows Online

BTS/VLIVE

Content is king, and idols know it! 

Nowadays, K-pop idols don’t just guest at variety shows, they also star on their own! Having their own programs lets idols share more about themselves to fans, as well as give the fans an inside look at their daily lives. 

Here are some of your favorite idols’ online variety shows you can binge on: 

Run BTS (2015 – present) 
Starring: All BTS members 

What it’s about: The world’s biggest K-pop boy group has their own weekly variety show where they take on missions and play games to win prizes or avoid punishments. In the program, the boys unleash their fun, goofy, and cheeky selves on camera, much to the delight of all ARMYs around the world. With almost 150 episodes as of August 2021, there is more than enough BTS content for fans to watch! 

Where to watch: VLive, Weverse 

24/365 with Blackpink (2020 – present) 
Starring: All Blackpink members 

What it’s about: 24/365 lets Blinks into the lives of Blackpink. The show features the members as they chill in their dorm, shoot their music videos, play games, attend group and individual schedules, learn new skills, and more. The program is currently in its first season and has 16 uploaded episodes. 

Where to watch: Blackpink’s YouTube channel  

NCT Life (2016 – present) 
Starring: All NCT members 

What it’s about: It’s hard to keep up with a massive 23-member group, but NCT Life will help you get to know all the members better! Throughout its 10-season run, the show follows the lives of all members as they travel to different cities and countries. Several seasons also featured the NCT members acting as tour guides for their fellow members.  

Where to watch: NCT’s VLive channel 

Red Velvet Level Up! Project (2017 – 2020) 
Starring: All Red Velvet members (seasons 1 – 3), Irene and Seulgi (season 4)

What it’s about: The girls of Red Velvet take Reveluvs on a trip around the world with them in Level Up! Project. The show currently has four seasons; however, only the most recent one featuring Irene and Seulgi can be viewed outside of South Korea. 

Where to watch: SM C&C YouTube channel

SuperM M-Topia (2021)
Starring: All SuperM members 

What it’s about: SM Entertainment’s supergroup, SuperM, is made up of EXO’s Baekhyun and Kai, Shinee’s Taemin, and NCT’s Taeyong, Ten, Lucas, and Mark. In 2020, they starred in their own variety show, M-Topia, where they go on a special vacation to relax and bond. During the trip, they also try different missions and avoid booby traps in the games to build their teamwork.

Where to watch: SM C&C YouTube channel

EXO Ladder (2018 – 2019)
Starring: EXO-CBX (Season 1), All EXO members except Lay (Season 2)

What it’s about: Officially titled “Travel the world on EXO’s ladder,” the show features the members as they go on a trip, and what they will do on their journey is determined by the ladder game (used to help choose something at random). In the first season, the EXO-CBX sub-unit (Chen, Baekhyun, Xiumin) went to Japan; in the second season, all members (except Lay) took a trip to Taiwan. 

Where to watch: SM C&C YouTube channel

EXO Arcade (Season 1 2018 – 2019; Season 2 2021) 
Starring: All EXO members except Lay (Season 1); Xiumin, Baekhyun, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun (Season 2) 

What it’s about: On this show, EXO-Ls get to watch their favorite boys compete against one another in various games—from shouting in silence to the Mafia game. Winners get prizes such as snack foods, while losers receive a penalty from the winners. 

Where to watch: VLive, SM C&C YouTube channel

Time to Twice (2020 – present) 
Starring: All Twice members

What it’s about: Twice members bring on the laughs and their competitive streaks with Time to Twice! Each short season (around 5-6 episodes long) takes on a different concept, such as a noraebang (karaoke) battle, healing camping trip, high school, crime scene—and even chocolate factory! 

Where to watch: Twice’s YouTube channel

Twice TV (2015 – present)
Starring: All Twice members 

What it’s about: Twice TV follows the Twice members as they go about their daily lives—album recording, music video shooting, and more. There’s more than 200 episodes to watch, so you won’t run out of vids to binge! 

Where to watch: Twice’s YouTube channel

Going Seventeen (2017 – present) 
Starring: All Seventeen members 

What it’s about: Going Seventeen is an ongoing web series featuring the 13-member boy group Seventeen. The show began in 2017 as a vlog-style program featuring behind-the-scenes footage of the group’s activities. In 2019, it transitioned into a variety/game show series, which saw the boys take on different challenges such as bungee jumping, going to escape rooms, completing an inflatable obstacle course race, and more. 

Where to watch: Seventeen’s YouTube channel, VLive

Categories
KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

The Return of Seven K-pop Idols From Military Service in 2022

JINU - '또또또 (Feat.MINO)' M/V. Photo: WINNER/YouTube

We know the drill: Fandoms cry, fandoms take to social media to express their undying deviation for their oppas, and alas, we see our beautiful men going bald or in crew cuts to fulfill their patriotic duty to the Republic of Korea by enlisting in the military. 

And for some of us, the wait will be over soon, the first half of 2022, to be exact. Here are some idols who are scheduled to return to idol life in the first six months of next year:

Jinwoo (WINNER)
Discharge: Jan. 1, 2022

Winner’s oldest member enlisted on April 2, 2020, seven days before the group’s last album with all four members, Remember, was released. In August the previous year, Jinu made his solo debut with Jinu’s Heyday, a single album with the lead single Call Anytime, which topped various music charts, including the iTunes charts in 13 countries. The second placer on the 2015 list of male idols with perfect facial ratios is seen to continue solo activities upon his discharge, carrying on with his appearances on web series, variety shows, and even stage productions which he successfully conducted until his enlistment. Unfortunately, Mino and Yoon have yet to start their military service, so Inseos may have to wait until 2024 for WINNER to return as a complete foursome.

Ken (VIXX)
Discharge: Jan. 15, 2022

As the main vocalist of the group known as the Concept Kings, Ken has had a busy career both as a member of VIXX and as a solo artist before enlisting. He has acted on musical theater and television and successfully released an EP entitled Greeting in May 2020, two months before starting his military training. STARLIGHTS have zero doubts that their husky-voiced vocalist will have an abundance of work offers once he finishes his military duties as an active-duty soldier with the army’s music corps in a little over five months. 

Zico (Block B)
Discharge: February 8, 2022

Block B leader, soloist rapper, and KOZ Music CEO Zico left us with a lot of songs to tide us through his absence before beginning his military conscription on July 30, 2020. He started that year with a bang, releasing the viral Any Song and its accompanying #AnySongChallenge on social media, which propelled it to the top of the charts. Weeks before he started serving as a public service worker, he released Random Box, an EP that included Summer Hate, featuring Rain, which peaked at #2 in Gaon charts. It is expected that he will release new music in February, still under his own label, which was acquired by HYBE Corporation (formerly BigHit Entertainment of BTS fame) late last year.  

Chunji (Teen Top)
Discharge: February 9, 2022

Teen Top holds the distinction as the only band in K-pop history to have celebrated its 10th anniversary as a group last year without any of its members starting their military enlistment yet. That’s because all of the members were still in their teens (as their group’s name implies) when they debuted in 2010. Chunji was the first to enlist on August 8 last year and is set to end his military service in February next year. A return to musicals may be in store for the group’s visual in February, or maybe a sub-unit with Neil and Changjo, his group mates who have yet to enlist. Besides—with Chunji’s looks and charisma—an acting career shouldn’t be a long shot.   

Suho and Chen (EXO)
Discharge: February 13, 2022 and late April to early May 2022

Suho and Chen are set to finish their military service in the first half of 2022: Suho is set to give EXOLs a Valentine’s treat as he is scheduled to be released on either February 12 or 13, while Chen is serving as an active-duty soldier until late April next year. Both missed their group’s Can’t Fight the Feeling comeback in 2020 and will surely make their presence felt in EXO’s 2022 releases. Both have debuted as solo artists, so they might have more solo releases next year. The group’s leader is also expected to accept more acting work while expecting the main vocal to do more OST work and, hopefully, introduce his family to the universe next year.   

Seph (KARD)
Discharge: April 16, 2022

Seph is the only member of the co-ed group KARD who has to enlist in the military, considering groupmate BM is an American citizen. With the group’s international success, having already staged a US tour after their Korean debut in 2017, J. Seph and his three members are expected to continue with international promotions while simultaneously strengthening their activities locally to dispel criticism against the group involving them allegedly favoring their international audience more than their Korean public.

And that’s only for the first months of the year! We’ll surely update you of more idols slated to return to us from July to the -ber months of 2022, so stay tuned!

Feature image: JINU – ‘또또또 (Feat.MINO)’ M/V. Photo: WINNER/YouTube
Categories
K-DRAMA LATEST STORIES

Ten Memorable K-Drama OST Songs from 2017 Up to Now

The first question you may probably think of just from reading the title is, “Why from 2017 only?” The answer to that would be :

  1. Making a list of memorable K-drama themes of all time is simply painful. How can you choose only ten songs from a selection as rich and diverse as k-dramas from the 1990s up until now? 
  2. The year 2016 is just too much. There’s 2016 and there’s the rest of k-drama music history. For a year that has Descendants of the Sun, Goblin, Hwarang, Another Miss Oh, and Scarlet Heart Ryeo on its list (and that’s not exhaustive at all), 2016 deserves its own list, end of discussion.

So, here are ten songs to serve as your gateway anthems should you wish to explore the last five years of k-dramas. 

It’s You by Henry in While You Were Sleeping (2017)

The first of the two songs of the same title, this one was played in the Lee Jongsuk– Bae Suzy starrer, While You Were Sleeping. One of a few OST tracks that contain solely English lyrics, the former Super Junior-M’s soaring vocals enhance this drama, which like the song, was quite polarizing at the start, with images of violence and suicide during its initial episodes turning off audiences. Like the song though, the drama also eventually became a hit and has endured the test of time, as it is still being remembered fondly, particularly by Lee Jongsuk-stans, who are eagerly waiting for the release of his new work after his discharge from the military this year.  

Double Trouble Couple by MAMAMOO in Strong Woman Do Bong Soon (2017)

Vocal powerhouse group MAMAMOO‘s contribution to the  Strong Woman Do Bong Soon‘s soundtrack Double Trouble Couple, is the pitch-perfect embodiment of the show’s primary pairing – the superstrong So Bong Soon (Park Boyoung) and the rich but sensitive heir Ahn Minhyuk (Park Hyungsik). While Bongsoon was painfully in crush with her childhood friend turned policeman Gukdoo (Ji Soo) as she also performs her duties as Mr. Ahn’s bodyguard, the latter appears to have slowly but surely fallen for her diminutive employee. The song is as quirky as the interactions between the two while also being a tad applicable to the show’s “bromance” of the rich kid and the idealistic detective. It also strikes a good balance with the show’s out-and-out love theme song, You’re My Garden sang by Apink‘s Jung Eunji.  

When I Saw You by Bumkey in Hwayungi: A Korean Odyssey (2017-2018)

Bumkey‘s When I Saw You was strategically played in scenes when Seonmi (Oh Yeonseo) almost remembers meeting the immortal Son Ohgong (Lee Seunggi) as a kid while the latter distinctly remembering the same moments. And there’s us in our houses shouting at the TV or our laptops, willing everyone to remember  so that everyone will already fall in love with each other and live happily ever after in diety heaven. 

It’s You by Jeong Sewoon in What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim (2018)

As Produce 101 Season 2 alumni Jeong Sewoon starts singing It’s You while the camera focuses on Lee Young-jun’s (Park Seojoon) face, it was at that moment when he, along with the rest of the drama-watching public realizes that he has been putting a lot of effort not only into letting his ever-reliable secretary Kim Miso (Park Minyoung) stay because he has become comfortable with his assistant for nine years, but because he has fallen in love with her.   

All About You by Taeyeon in Hotel del Luna (2019)

Just when you thought that IU would sing the love theme for the OST of her massive hit show Hotel del Luna, the show’s producers had other things on their minds. Enter the unofficial-yet-somehow-official queen of k-drama OSTs, Girl’s Generation leader and main vocalist Taeyeon, to sing about thinking of your loved one as a poem. Far from being cheesy, the song does sound poetic and balances the sternness of IU‘s character, the often high-strung 1,000-year old ghost hotel owner Jang Manwol.  

Here I Am Again by Baek Yerin in Crash Landing on You (2019-2020)

The CLOY OST has some real heart-wrenching tracks, but Baek Yerin‘s contribution takes the cake as one of the most, if not the most memorable one, as this was the song that played during THAT scene – when South Korean businesswoman Seri (Son Yejin) got a bit lost in a North Korean market and Capt. Ri (Hyun Bin) was in a panic, looking for her. When the captain finally saw the light from the candle Seri lit and Baek Yerin’s lilting voice kicked in, I guarantee, loads of tear ducts were instantly activated. 

Start Over by Gaho in Itaewon Class (2020)

From the get-go, Gaho’s contribution to the Itaewon Class OST gives a rousing feel to any listening to forge on despite any difficulty being faced. The song is a perfect fit for the drama’s protagonist Saeroyi (Park Seojoon), who needed to build a new life after being released from jail for an injustice. Also perfect for the rest of us who have to get up every morning and face a world that’s still debilitated by the Coronavirus and its seemingly endless variants.      

I Knew I Love by Jeon Mido in Hospital Playlist (2020)

The various parts of the Hospital Playlist OST spoiled us with a huge selection of music. After all, the drama’s all about a group of doctors whose stress reliever is a band they are a part of. All of the band members have a highlight song, with Lee Ikjun’s (Jo Jungsuk) revival of the 2001 hit Aloha proving to be the OST’s most popular release. But then, a song the group sang in a noraebang session, I Knew I Love, was added to Part 11 of the show’s OST. The song was sung byJeon Mido who plays tone-deaf Dr. Songhwa in the drama. But then, we fans do know, thanks to our “research” skills that Mido‘s singing skills are way better than her doctor character; after all, she is actually a musical theatre actress before accepting the part in Hospital Playlist, her first TV acting job.   

In Your Time by AKMU’s Lee Suhyun in It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020)

For a show that presented how all of its characters are struggling through life with their own issues, Suhyun‘s song offers just the right consolation, as well as a fitting reminder for all of us: that we’re never alone and there’s always someone who will find us even during times when we feel the loneliest.   

Running by Gaho in Start-Up (2020)

Look, a repeat offender! Gaho, purveyor of songs that ooze inspiration and positivity, was part of  another OST of a show that narrates the struggles of people who can’t seem to get a break in life. Full disclosure: Gaho has been a major contributor to my personal pandemic soundtrack. You want to get out of a rut? You want something to pick you up from a mood? You want someone to take your hand as you get through the darkness like the show’s Dalmi (Bae Suzy) and Dosan (Nam Joohyuk)? You just want to think of the show’s perfect second lead Han Jipyeong (played by the equally perfect Kim Seonho)? In Gaho we trust.

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